Traffic recording apparatus



J. P. M CURDY 3,353,186

TRAFFIC RECORDING APPARATUS Nov. 14, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1965 INVENTOR. I

7 QTTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1967 J. P. M CURDY TRAFFIC RECORDING APPARAT US Fi led May 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwfll/ENToR. M,MMM

United States Patent 3,353,186 TRAFFIC RECURDING APPARATUS James P. Mc Curdy, 1025 N. Miller Road, Saginaw, Mich. 48603 Filed May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 457,081 6 Claims. (Cl. 346-42) This invention relates to trafiic recording apparatus and more particularly to apparatus which is specially adapted for use in recording not only the frequency of animal movements past a selected zone, but also the directions in which such animals are moving.

Knowledge of the movements of animals is particularly useful to conservation department personnel inasmuch as such knowledge will enable more accurate records to be kept concerning the habits of animals. Such knowledge also is useful to hunters inasmuch as it will enable a hunter to station himself in a position and at a time which are best calculated to afford him a proper target. Without such knowledge a hunter must station himself adjacent what appears to be a path used frequently by animals of the kind he hopes to bag, but merely taking such a position does not necessarily mean that his chances of success are particularly good. For example, it quite often happens that game will take a path leading in one direction at a given time of day, but will traverse a different path at other times of day. In order for the hunter to take the best possible position with respect to the movements of such game and to avoid the hunters having to spend long periods of time in a particular area, information concerning the directions and times of movements of such game is invaluable.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus which is capable of recording not only the movement of game past a particular zone, but also the direction and time of such movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which may be installed adjacent an animal trail and not have any adverse effect on the animals the tr-affic of which is to be recorded.

A further object of the invention is to provide trafiic recording apparatus including means for indicating the passage of a particularly large animal.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is silent in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, but rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the apparatus shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of a ratus;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of a detail of the apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 1A is a schematic wiring diagram of simple electrical devices which may be incorporated in the apparatus.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a base 1 on which is supported a hollow housing 2 Within which is mounted an electric motor 3 part of the appathat may be operated by a battery 4 under the control of a switch 5 which may be mounted in any convenient and accessible place on the housing 2. Within the housing 2 is supported a gear box or other drive transmitting unit 6 of known construction that is driven by the motor 3 and includes an output or driven shaft 7 to which is fixed a rotatable mounting disk 8. Mounted on the disk 8 for rotation about the axis of the shaft 7 is an annular record 9 formed of fairly stiff paper or the like that is removably maintained in fixed relation relative to the disk 8 by means of a thumbnut 10 which may be threaded on the free end of the shaft 7. Removably supported on the housing 2 and overlying the top of the latter is a transparent bezel 11 formed of clear plastic or glass.

The record 9 is divided into seven equal, radially extending segments, one for each of the seven days of a week. Each segment is divided into two parts to indicate, respectively, the forenoon and afternoon hours of a day. Adjacent the periphery of the record 9 are three annular bands A, B and C, the band A being the radially outermost and the band C being the radially innermost. The significance of the construction of the record 9 will be explained hereinafter.

The housing 2 includes a marginal cover 12 adjacent one side of which is mounted a bar 13 that extends through an opening formed in the bezel and overlies the peripheral edge of the record 9. The one side of the housing hereinafter will be referred to as the forward side. The lower surface of the bar 13 is provided with three slots 14, 15 and 16 which are spaced apart from one another radially of the record 9 according to the spacing of the bands A, B and C.

Secured to the bottom of the housing 2 is an upstanding, generally L-shaped frame member 17 having a horizontal flange 18 projecting forwardly therefrom adjacent, but spaced from, the center of the housing. Mounted on the flange 18 by means of screws 19 or the like is a recording member 20 formed of spring metal and having three flexible fingers 21, 22 and 23. At the free end of the fingers 21, 22 and 23 is a stylus 24, 25 and 26, respectively, hav ing a pointed end projecting toward the lower surface of the record 9. The member 20 is so mounted that the styli 24, 25 and 26 are aligned with the slots 14, 15 and 16, respectively, formed in the bar 13, and when the apparatus is not in recording use the styli are spaced below and are free of the record 9.

Adjacent the forward end of the housing 2 is traflic sensing means 27 comprising an upstanding shaft 28 that is rotatably journaled in bearings 29 supported within the housing. The upper end of the shaft 28 projects through an opening provided in the cover 12 and is bent to provide a forwardly projecting extension 30 to which is fixed a sleeve 31 or the like that is adapted to receive one end of a branch 32 of a tree. The branch may be removably retained in the sleeve 31 by means of a thumbscrew 33. The branch 32 is adapted to project across a deer or other game trail so as to be brushed aside by the passage of an animal. Brushing aside of the branch 32 is possible because of the ability of the shaft 28 to rock in either of two directions from a neutral position.

Fixed to the shaft 28 by a pin 34 or the like is a segment-shaped member 35 adjacent the free end of which is fixed a pair of arcuate actuating cams 36 and 37. The cam 36 is located radially inwardly of the cam 37 and its location corresponds to the location of the stylus 24, whereas the location of the cam 37 corresponds to the location of the stylus 25. As is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, the cam 37 terminates short of the longitudinal center line of the member 35 in an upwardly inclined surface 38, and the cam 37 terminates short of the longitudinal center line of the member 35, but on the opposite side thereof, in a similar upwardly inclined sur- 3 face 39. Thus, adjacent the center line of the member is a gap between the cams 36 and 37 or, stated differently, there is no cam surface adjacent the longitudinal center of the member 35.

Means is provided for constantly exerting a force on the sensing apparatus 27 tending to restore it to its neutral position and comprises a tension spring 40 one end of which is anchored to a bolt 41 secured to the frame member 17 and the other end of which is anchored to a bolt 42 that is supported in a flange 43 depending from a lever 44 that is mounted on and fixed to the shaft 28. The arrangement is such that the spring 49 constantly exerts a force on the shaft 28 tending to hold the latter in such position that the gap between the cams 36 and 37 is located beneath the styli 24 and 25.

. Snubbing means 45 is provided to prevent oscillation of the sensing apparatus 27 and comprises a cylinder 46 swivelly mounted at its closed end on a spindle 47 that is supported in a bracket 48 mounted on the frame member 17. Reciprocable in the cylinder is a piston 49 to which is connected one end of a piston rod 50, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the lever 44 by means of an upstanding pin 51. One end of the cylinder is open, but its other end has a wall 52 in which is an opening through which air may enter and leave the interior of the cylinder. The opening is partially closed or restricted by a spring-pressed check valve 52a of known kind. The construction and arrangement of the snubbing apparatus '45 are such that when the sensing apparatus 27 swings in either direction from its neutral position, the piston 49 moves toward the open end of the cylinder 46, causing air freely to enter the cylinder through the opening in the wall 52. When the spring 4% returns the sensing apparatus to its-neutral position, the piston 49 moves toward the closed end of the cylinder, forcing air through the restricted opening in the wall 52, thereby retarding return movement of the sensing means and preventing oscillation of the latter.

, Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention preferably includes additional sensing means 55 comprising a shaft 56 rotatably supported in bearings, one of which is shown at 57 in FIGURE 1, carried by the cover 12. The innerend of the shaft 56 extends under the stylus 26 and carries a cam 58 that is adapted, upon rotation of the shaft 56, to displace the stylus 26 upwardly and pierce the record 9. To the outer end of the shaft 56 is fixed a pulley 59 to which is secured one end of a light string 60. The free end of the string 68 may be threaded through a guide 61 and extended across the path of animals and tied to -a limb of a tree. A spring 62 has one of its ends secured to a wall of the housing 2 and its other end secured to the shaft 56 in such manner as normally to urge the shaft 56 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as it is viewed in FIGURE'Z. The shaft 56 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, against the bias of the spring 62, when the string so is extended across the path of animals so as to tension the string and condition the cam for rotation upon breaking of the string.

To condition the apparatus for operation, it is placed adjacent what appears to be an animal trail, with the forward side of the housing 2 substantially parallel to the trail. A-branch 32 then may be secured to the shaft 28 and so arranged as to project across the trail. If desired,

the string may be strung across the trail at a substantially higher level so as to be in a position to be broken in the event an exceptionally large animal should use the trail.

With the sensing devices adjusted, the record 9 may be adjusted relatively to the reference point determined by the location of the styli 24-26 so that the latter lie under those portions of the record which correspond to the day and hour at the time the recording apparatus is installed adjacent the animal trail. Thereafter, the switch 5 may be closed so as to cause operation of the motor 3. The gear box 6 should'be provided with gearing such that the record-supporting member 8 is driven through an arc of approximately 51.4 degrees in a twenty-four hour period.

When the apparatus has been set in operation, assume that a deer or other animal proceeds along the path in such direction as to cause the shaft 28 to be rocked clockwise from its neutral position, as viewed in FIG- URE l. The actuating cam 36 thereupon will displace the stylus 24 upwardly and pierce the record 9 in the outer band A, thereby indicating the direction, the day and the hour that the animal passed the recording zone. When the animal passes by the recording zone, the spring 40 will restore the sensing apparatus to its neutral position. Should another animal move along the trail in the op posite direction, the sensing means will be rotated counterclockwise, whereupon the cam 37 will displace the stylus 25 upwardly and pierce the record 9 in the band B, thereby indicating the direction, day and hour that the animal passed the recording zone.

In the event a large animal should pass the recording zone,-it will engage and break the string 60, whereupon the spring 62 operates to rotate the shaft 56 and the cam 58 to displace the stylus 26 upwardly and pierce the record 9 in the band C. At the same time, the passage of the animal will displace the sensing apparatus 27 so as to pierce the record 9 in one of the bands A or B. Consequently, by comparison of the marks made on the record, the direction and time of travel of the large animal also may be determined.

j The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim: I I 1. Trafiic recording apparatus comprising a rotary sup-' port member for supporting a record; means for rotating said supporting member about an axis to revolve a record past a reference zone; first marking means at said reference zone operable to mark said record at a predetermined distance from said axis; second marking means at said reference zone operable to mark said record at a different predetermined distance from said axis; traific sensing means; means mounting said sensing means in the path of traffic for movement in either of two opposite directions;-

ac-tuating-means connected to said sensing means for movement with the latter and being engageable with one or the other of said first and second marking means for operating the latter according to the direction of movement of said sensing means; means acting on said sensing means for returning the latter to a neutral position following movement thereof in either one of said directions; and snubbing means acting on said returning means for preventing return movement of said sensing means past said neutral position.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including third marking means at said zone independent of said first and second marking means, and means independent of said sensing means for operating said third marking means.

3 Traffic recording apparatus comprising a support member for supporting a record; means mounting said support member for rotation about an axis to revolve a record-supported thereby past a reference zone; a first. marking stylus supported at said zone for movement into:

from said neutral position; second actuating means car-' fled. by Said Sensing means for engagement with said second stylus in response to swinging movement of said sensing means in the other direction from said neutral position; spring means yieldably biasing said sensing means to said neutral position and operable to return said sensing means to said neutral position; and snubbing means acting on said sensing means for limiting return movement of the latter by said spring means past said neutral position.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 including a third marking stylus supported at said zone a radial distance from said axis different from the radial distances of either of said first and second styli; second traflic sensing means supported in the path of traflic for engagement therewith; and second actuating means acting on said third stylus in response to engagement of said second sensing means b traflic to move said third stylus into engagement with sai record.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said second sensing device comprises a breakable tension memher.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said second actuating means comprises a cam and spring means acting on said cam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 148,791 3/1874 Wier 34642 208,727 10/1878 Feeny 346-42 717,558 1/1903 Durkee et a1 346-42 1,791,759 2/1931 Herstedt et a1. 346-102 a 15 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

J. W. HARTARY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. TRAFFIC RECORDING APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTARY SUPPORT MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING A RECORD; MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER ABOUT AN AXIS TO REVOLVE A RECORD PAST A REFERENCE ZONE; FIRST MARKING MEANS AT SAID REFERENCE ZONE OPERABLE TO MARK SAID RECORD AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID AXIS; SECOND MARKING MEANS AT SAID REFERENCE ZONE OPERABLE TO MARK SAID RECORD AT A DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID AXIS; TRAFFIC SENSING MEANS; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SENSING MEANS IN THE PATH OF TRAFFIC FOR MOVEMENT IN EITHER OF TWO OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SENSING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE LATTER AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE 